The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to expeditiously process the visa applications of Pernia Qureshi and her sister Sylvia Moin, daughters of meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi. The court’s intervention follows a prolonged legal battle involving the revocation of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) status and eligibility for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards.
Pernia Qureshi, a US citizen, approached the court in 2019 after the Centre decided to revoke her PIO status and denied her an OCI card. The denial was based on a 2018 communication stating that individuals with parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who were Pakistani citizens are ineligible for OCI status under the amended legal framework.
Qureshi’s history with Indian citizenship is central to the case. Born in Pakistan in 1983 to a Pakistani mother and an Indian father, she surrendered her Pakistani citizenship and became an Indian citizen in 1995. She remained an Indian citizen for 12 years before becoming a US citizen in 2007. Following this, she was issued a PIO card in 2008, which was intended to be valid until 2023.
However, when the Indian government merged the PIO and OCI schemes, her transition to OCI status was blocked due to her birth in Pakistan and her mother’s former citizenship.
Justice Sachin Datta, presiding over the matter, noted that Pernia Qureshi intended to submit a fresh application for a visa. The court directed the FRRO to process this application in accordance with applicable guidelines without unnecessary delay.
Regarding her sister, Sylvia Moin—also a US citizen—the court issued a stricter timeline. The authorities have been directed to decide on Sylvia’s visa application within 10 days from the date of the order (April 20).
“The Foreigners Regional Registration Office shall act expeditiously to process the application and make an endeavour to issue visa to the petitioner as per the applicable guidelines,” Justice Datta stated in the order.
Central government counsel Rajesh Gogna opposed the plea, contending that Pernia Qureshi had been residing in India without a valid permit. This stands in contrast to the petitioner’s position, who had previously secured a stay in March 2019 against the revocation of her PIO status. At that time, the High Court had noted that her 12-year stint as a documented Indian citizen was an undisputed fact.
The current order ensures that while the larger questions regarding her OCI eligibility remain, her immediate right to apply for and receive a visa under standard guidelines is protected and prioritized.
